Dean College welcomes Kennedy

U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III toured Dean College on a frigid Friday afternoon and spent some time discussing the merits of an individualized education with the institution’s president, Paula M. Rooney.

By Matt Tota/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

By Matt Tota/Daily News staff

Posted Jan. 26, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jan 26, 2013 at 7:47 PM

By Matt Tota/Daily News staff

Posted Jan. 26, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jan 26, 2013 at 7:47 PM

FRANKLIN

» Social News

U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III toured Dean College on a frigid Friday afternoon and spent some time discussing the merits of an individualized education with the institution’s president, Paula M. Rooney.

Twenty-four days removed from his swearing-in ceremony at the nation’s capital, Kennedy, D-4th, met for nearly an hour with Dean administrators inside the president’s office on the second floor of Dean Hall, an old brick building with a Gothic façade.

"From the institution’s perspective, in some ways we are humbled that the congressman would come and spend time with us," Rooney said. "It’s a great way to learn what his questions are and how we can help him. And … it gives him the opportunity to see a small academic institution from the inside out."

"He asked great questions," she added, "very probing questions."

The young representative wants to home in on the needs of the 4th Congressional District and strengthen the support he can offer from Washington.

Visiting the college, Kennedy said, reinforced in his mind the importance of preparing students for a changing economy.

Earlier, he attended a breakfast hosted by the SouthCoast Development Partnership at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth that focused on the emergence of the manufacturing and biotech industries in that region.

"We need to create — particularly in this economy — that school-to-employment, school-to-business pipeline, so graduates today are coming out with the skills they need to jump right into the jobs of the future," Kennedy said.

But, he said, providing students with a relevant education also means recognizing there are different levels of learning, assuring they "get the attention they need and deserve."

"(We need to) make sure students learn it right the first time," Kennedy said, "rather than falling behind and then having to spend months and years and thousands and thousands of dollars to try to catch up."

"The biggest takeaway from this morning was that the individualized approach Dean has perfected over time is such an important service to students," he added.

Kennedy saw much of the campus during the tour.

He walked alongside Rooney though the recently renovated and expanded Campus Center. Rooney showed off the center’s new dance studio, pointing out that Dean has about 400 dance majors.

"I’m one of those folks who still needs dance lessons," said the congressman.

Along the way, Kennedy greeted a history class taught by Professor David Denis.

"How’s it going?" he said. "What’re we learning?"

One of the last stops was Dean’s busy dining hall, where he posed for a few photos with students.